Page 114 of Power's Fall
“Keep it up,” he warned. “Pretty sure I promised some retribution for that.”
Montana rolled his eyes. “Isn’t it cute how our hubby thinks that’s a threat?”
“Hush a minute. I need to think.” Dahlia tapped her chin with one finger. “I’m trying to decide if I want to be on the giving or receiving end of that revenge.”
Vadisk crossed his arms. “You think you get a choice?”
“Of course I do,” Dahlia said, as if it was a foregone conclusion. “I didn’t take the picture.”
Vadisk laughed, then pulled her in so he could kiss the side of her head. “Fair point. I’ll let you decide.”
Dahlia walked over to one of the couches, limping slightly. She’d gotten medical treatment for the gunshot wound. Fortunately, the bullet hadn’t caused any serious damage to her calf, the wound not requiring more than a dozen stitches. Not that Vadisk hadn’t still lost ten years off his life when he’d jumped onto that boat, looked down, and seen Dahlia’s eyes closed, her leg bleeding.
She patted the spot next to her, which Vadisk quickly claimed, just narrowly beating his husband to it.
Montana gave him a friendly punch on the arm, then took a nearby chair. “How’s your leg, Dee?”
Vadisk was amused by the way Montana insisted on shortening their names. They’d become V and Dee somewhere over the past couple of days, and he liked it. A lot.
“It’s fine,Tana,” Dahlia said, stressing the abbreviated version of “Montana” she’d decided to use to tease him. “It’s a little bit tender when I put weight on it a certain way, but that’s all.
“I’m sorry you were hurt.” Vadisk had offered that apology countless times.
So many that Dahlia merely rolled her eyes. “Not your fault. You didn’t pull the trigger.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but she cut him off.
“And before you start spouting all that stuff about how you should have protected me better, don’t. Just don’t. I’ve heard it all before, and honestly I love you for it, but the truth is…I’m not mad about the wound. I mean, how badass will I sound when I tell people I was shot on a catamaran while holding a Crimean blackmailer hostage. My street cred just went through the roof.”
“Hey. FYI, Dee, I’m pretty sure you can’t brag about the wound. What we did falls under the category of secret mission.” Montana finger-quoted the wordssecret mission.
“Don’t harsh my buzz,” she growled.
Vadisk wanted to join in, wanted to joke around with them, but he was too hung up on something else she’d said. “You love me,” he repeated.
Dahlia grinned. “One of us had to say it first.”
Montana laughed. “Of course, she beat us to it. Something tells me we’re never going to be able to keep up with our woman, V.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m not going to enjoy the chase.” Vadisk reached out, gripping the back of her neck to pull her in for a soft kiss. “I love you too.”
“Hell yeah,” Montana breathed. “It’s finally out there. Ditto all around from me.”
Dahlia and Vadisk shook their heads, chuckling at Montana’s decidedly romantic-less declaration.
“Should we…” Vadisk jerked his head toward the bedroom, surprised when Dahlia shook her head again.
Dahlia hesitated, then said, “Um… Not yet.”
The fact that neither Dahlia nor Montana seemed ready to take things into the bedroom struck Vadisk as strange and concerning. Hadn’t they just shared a moment?
Even more strange was the way Dahlia’s smile faded, her eyes creased with…fear? Apprehension?
“What’s wrong,Sonechko?”
Dahlia toyed with the fringe on one of the couch’s throw pillows. “I know this is all new. And I know that our feelings for each other are sincere, but successful relationships require a lot more than love.”
“What are you talking about?” Vadisk asked.